22°
District resident Alonzo Lewis, 38, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after gunning down Jaquan Helm and Venius Badgett on Memorial Day in 2018 after there was some confusion involving Lewis' son and wife, federal authorities announced.
The fatal incident could have been avoided late on Saturday, May 26, 2018, when Badgett, a school bus aide, and Helm, a youth football coach, came upon Lewis' young son, who was riding his bike in a dark parking lot.
According to prosecutors, "fearful that the child might get hit, Badgett told Lewis' son not to ride his bike in the parking lot at night," which was then relayed to Lewis' wife, who got into a physical altercation with Badgett over the incident.
Helm was able to break up the fight, and as he was walking home with his wife, Lewis' son called him to the scene, and he fatally shot the couple in front of "a number of children who were outside playing over the holiday weekend."
Police said that Helm was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders, while Badgett was rushed to an area hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Badgett and Helm left behind five children, some of whom were at the scene and witnessed their parents' murder that night and were left to be taken care of by their grandmother in DC.
Lewis pleaded guilty in October to two counts of second-degree murder while armed. When his time is served, he will be placed on five years of supervised release.
Want breaking news in the DMV as it happens, or want to contribute? Join the DMV All Incidents Facebook group.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Arlington and receive free news updates.
